Vipassana is an Indian meditation technique that means “to see things as they are.” It involves self-observation through body sensation, leading to inner peace.

I learned about this technique from friends who completed the course and highly recommended it. After hearing about Vipassana, I encountered more people who had experienced it, and information kept coming my way without any active search. That’s when I knew I had to try it, adding it to my sabbatical plans. It served as the final test of the Meditation Teacher Training Course I completed in Rishikesh.

Vipassana proved to be one of the most amazing experiences during my sabbatical, and I want to share how it was and some lessons I took from it. I won’t delve into the day-to-day activities or the actual technique, as each person should have their own experience.

The Basics

Traveling alone was the closest experience to being with myself 24/7. The first time I did it, I was 20, and it was a huge discovery. For the first time, I made plans, deciding what to do, where to go, what to eat, and how to spend money. There, I encountered a new me, and I liked that person. I enjoy talking to people and meeting strangers, but only some days. I enjoyed the silence (Depeche mode!), sitting and contemplating what was passing by. That may be why I wasn’t afraid to be silent for ten days; I fantasized about it.

During the retreat, we practiced noble silence, meaning no talking or using gestures to communicate with others. It was not that difficult, as expected. I appreciated solitude more and more. The silence was marvelous; it highlighted how much energy we save when we stop talking, like an internal energy-efficient technology. I also found silence therapeutic.

“The secret of good old-age is none other than an honest pact with solitude”

Gabriel García Márquez.

In the silence, you finally listen to your mind and body. You don’t have another option; you cannot escape. Sometimes, what your mind tells you can be painful but quickly overridden by the body’s pain. After nearly 12 hours of sitting, the pain in the body becomes unbearable, even with breaks every hour. It made me realize that the same happened while working long hours, but I only listened to my body when the pain reached a certain level that I “had to pay attention.”

During those days, yoga rescued me. Although I was not a regular practitioner, I knew some positions from previous classes, so I created a short routine and did it three times a day. It was a miracle. We all probably know about the benefits of daily exercise; I work out at least five days a week. But there, I experienced it differently. It was like an experiment: “What happens to your body when you don’t move but pay attention to the pain all day?” After that, you want to start practicing daily yoga and moving the body like an African dancer.

I also realized the effects of the insane level of stimuli we are exposed to. We know we are hyperconnected, scrolling up and down the phone with thousands of colors and ads inviting us to eat, drink, and buy. Suddenly, we get so busy with all the information that we don’t digest it to connect, create, or put into practice what we learn; we stay in the shallows. It also drains a lot of our energy. Ten unplugged days helped me focus on the meditation technique, as there was no external information sabotaging what I had in mind. Diving deep into my thoughts, myself, and my pains was necessary. It was like another experiment: ten years of therapy in ten days.

Something else that was crucial to “survive” was discipline and determination. Nothing happens if you leave after day one. They won’t expel you if you don’t wake up at 4 a.m. or decide to sleep in the afternoon (at least not where I was). However, the results you get by doing your best and with no expectations can surprise you. You might realize that you are capable of things you never imagined. You unlock a new power. 

Hey, body, we need less food than what we are eating. Of course, I knew if we sit most of the day, we don’t need much to eat. At the Vipassana Center, we only had breakfast, lunch, and tea with fruit in the afternoon. The recommendation was not to eat in excess, letting a quarter of the stomach empty. This helps concentration and focus during meditation. I followed the instructions and tried to know what that quarter was for me. The result: I was okay with little food, and I was not as hungry all the time as I thought. Yes, I felt more energized than when I ate my lovely Bandeja Paisa.

Although I have many lessons from those ten incredible days, I will finish with these beautiful words: Volition and Equanimity. Volition, on the one hand, is about the intention behind thoughts, words, or actions. Think about someone who loves you. Sometimes, you feel they “criticize you” or tell you something that angers you. In most cases, the problem is how things are said, but their real intention is good. Giving and speaking with pure volition might liberate you from frustration and suffering. 

On the other hand, Equanimity is intrinsically related to detachment and impermanence. When you meditate, you can have positive or negative experiences; however, you should not pursue any of them. You need to keep your inner calm and act more like an observer. For example, when my back was in so much pain, I was trying to avoid the feeling by moving or thinking about something else to get rid of the pain. The next day, I “allowed” the pain to stay, going deeply into it. Suddenly, the pain was gone without noticing, and I had no idea how. Another day, I had a magical meditation, and the next day, I tried to have the same beautiful visions. Well, it never happened. In either case, you observe things as they are without any desire or aversion. So, regardless of the experience, see it, do not attach to it, and then it will go, and you will continue your journey.

“We are by nature observers, and thereby learners. That is our permanent state.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

What to Do With All These Lessons?

Easy, my friend, become a monk/nun! 😀

Another option is to try to do your best. Do everything you do with love. It’s very cliché but powerful.

Vipassana was hard work, but every minute of pain was worth it. I left the center astonished, lighter, and happier. I didn’t want to go; I felt I needed more of those days. My sensitivity was heightened; everything looked brighter, more colorful, and tastier.

I haven’t had a “drastic” change (I’m not living in an Ashram now), but overall, I feel calmer, enjoy my morning meditations more, and am more patient (but I still need to work on it). I was also feeling depressed with climate change, thinking that we have reached a non-return point, and those days helped me to recover from that perspective and to keep my inner peace. I am part of nature; thus, if I am safe and healthy, one part of nature is fine. 

Back in Mexico, I prioritized establishing and sticking to my new routine. I try to wake up early to meditate for at least 30 minutes or one hour, this time without an app and using what I learned. I also give classes to my husband and, on weekends, classes to friends and family.

If you feel like trying a meditation class, you are very welcome!

Now, back to business, the Earth needs us!